English Language Arts: Communication Strategies

K-12: Standard 5

• Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

English Language Arts: Developing Research Skills

K-12: Standard 8

• Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

English Language Arts: Applying Non-English Perspectives

K-12: Standard 10

• Students whose first language is not English make use of their first language to develop competency in the English language arts and to develop an understanding of content across the curriculum.

Standards for the English Language Arts, by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, Copyright 1996 by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.

Source: NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts

Encourage students as they follow the writing process to explore anything from simple sentences to five-paragraph essays. These versatile books can support writing exercises in all major subject areas and current events. The students may be prompted to explore any genre to express ideas. Older students can explore library resources to develop research-based writing. Second language learners can relate to given themes to develop writing skills. Through these books, the teacher can develop a unique classroom library featuring students as authors.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Supplies Used: Brads, Cardstock, Glue, Hole Punch, Lined Paper, Ribbon, Scissors, Stapler, White Pen, Yarn

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

Creating Artistic Books:

1. Die-cut two copies per student using the LG or XL Birthday Cake, Butterfly, Flag or House Book Covers. Cut from various colors of cardstock or construction paper.
2. Book Covers may be embellished with crayons or colored pens or die-cut additional copies from contrasting colors of cardstock or construction paper to embellish the front of the booklet. Use scissors to trim along the perforated lines and attach accents to the Book Cover.

Birthday Cake Cover

1. Die-cut the Birthday Cake Cover from the frosting-colored paper. Cut along the frosting and candle perforated lines (Figure A). Adhere the frosting and embellish with colored dots from a hole punch or use a white pen.
2. Cut along the middle layer perforated lines to create a filling for the Cake and the perfect place for the title of the story (Figure B).
3. Die-cut the candle and flame from desired colors. Trim and adhere to Cake.

Butterfly Cover

1. Die-cut the Butterfly Cover from two contrasting colors of paper. Cut along the perforated lines for wing and body decorations. Adhere to Butterfly (see Main Photo).

Flag Cover

1. Die-cut the Flag Cover from red, white and blue paper. Use scissors to trim along the perforated lines for the blue and red areas of the Flag (Figure C). Attach to white cover with glue or other adhesive.
2. Die-cut Tiny Stars from white paper. Adhere to the blue section of the Flag.
   

House Cover

1. Die-cut the roof and door from contrasting colors and adhere to the Cover. Title information can be placed behind the open windows if desired (Figure D).

Completing Booklets

1. Die-cut as many Birthday Cake Pages as needed using the LG or XL corresponding Book Page from lined paper.
2. Place the Pages inside the front and back Covers and align the holes on the side.
3. Booklets may be stapled or hole punched. Brads may also be used (see Main Photo). To hole punch, punch through all layers of the booklet. Thread ribbon or yarn from the back through the pages and the top cover.